You now have the information on how to do CPR on an
Adult, Child and Infant, and how to use an AED on an adult. Just as
there were differences in how you approach CPR on a child or an infant,
there are differences in how a defibrillator is used on a child.
We now look at what happens
when a defibrillator arrives into a situation involving young children.
Child
& Infant CPR and the Defibrillator
You
are now in a scenario where you doing CPR on a child between the ages
of one and eight years old , you have sent for help and asked for an
Automated External Defibrillator (or AED), it now arrives.
Immediately
turn on the AED and it will speak as I have already described. With
most defibrillators there should be a set of adult pads already attached
to the unit.
There
are separate pads for children, they will often be in a different
coloured packet and with most AED’s you must remove the adult pads and
plug in the child pads, most AED’s will automatically now know they are
dealing with a child. If a shock is required the AED will reduce the
extent of the shock accordingly.
Some AED’s have a key you use
to tell the unit it is being used on a child. The important point in
this situation is to know your own AED well and to be fully trained in
its use. If you encounter a new AED be methodical. If there are a set of
child pads, calmly but quickly take them out and plug them into the
AED. Calmly open the packet and use them as described,
On a child one pad always
goes in the centre of the chest between the nipples and one goes on the
back directly behind it, this will be shown in diagram form on the pad
packet. Remember that being methodical is the key to getting this right,
the pads are extremely sticky so removing them to correct your
placement is both time consuming and messy and may damage the pads.
Do
what the defibrillator says from here on in, stand clear, call to
others to stand clear, shock or no shock and do CPR when advised.
I
must remind you that we are discussing a child between the ages of one
and eight years of age here. I have outlined CPR for an infant but there
is not enough information available right now to say that you would use
a defibrillator on an infant under the age of one, so you do not. I
recommend you keep an eye on the subject and check in with your nearest
Heart Foundation from time to time to see if this changes.
I welcome your question or comments, send
them to
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You now have essential information on how to do CPR. (Check your local directory for a class though to back up your knowledge and allow you to practice skills) What you have been reading up to now is geared towards adults.
There are differences worth noting in how you approach CPR in children.
A child for the purposes of CPR is classed as someone between the ages of 1 and 8 years old, an infant is under 1.
Child & Infant CPR
We have given scenarios in the previous article as to how you may encounter an unconscious person.
If that person is a child you must alter your approach slightly.
Firstly, you still check the area for safety, is there anything dangerous to you. You also take your precautions
in terms of a mask and gloves. There are smaller CPR masks for young children, if you work with children or are
in an environment where children frequent it is very advisable to have such a mask.
You then tap the childs shoulders and and call to them to check for a response, remember that you would
not shake or tap a child as vigorously as an adult. If there is no response we now call for help and activate an ambulance.
If you were alone with an adult you would leave the adult to get help.
You do not leave a child at this point; you just loudly call out for help. This is because of the more likely reasons
for a child to be unconscious and unresponsive which include drowning and choking.
Tilt the head back and look, listen and feel for breathing.
If you do not know what happened then also check inside the childs mouth, if you see an object remove it.
If there is no breathing, with the head still tilted back, pinch the nose, make a seal around the mouth and give
five (5) breaths to start, it will be two breaths from here onwards.
You then give thirty compressions. It is generally advised to use one hand when doing compressions on a child
between 1 and 8 years old. If you have small hands or are of slight build you may use two hands but be aware
of the amount of force you are using. You should be compressing one third of the chest on any person.
With an infant use the tips of your index and middle finger, the middle finger in the centre of the chest on the
nipple line and the index finger will then be just above that line.
Your CPR cycle is now the same as before, 30:2. One reason to use one hand is that you can use the other
hand to keep the child’s head tilted back as you compress the chest.
Do around one minute of CPR on the child and then get help, run a reasonable distance or if the child is
manageable and you do not suspect a spinal injury you can carefully carry the child with you.
Once help is activated you carry on CPR at a rate of 30 to 2, the guidelines as to how long you continue now
are essentially the same as before.
I welcome your question or comments, send them to
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